The first phase in preparing a TSP involves identifying your community’s goals and defining the steps, tasks, and budget needed to meet them. Note: Your community’s requirements that guide plan development will be different if you are within a metropolitan area.
Your Scope of Work
DO SOME PRE-WORK
In metropolitan areas, prior to scoping or starting the TSP update, cities and counties should consider completing the following tasks to streamline the TSP update process:
- Determine if the TSP update qualifies as a major or minor TSP update per OAR 660-012-0105. These TSP Guidelines will help with TPR compliance for a major update. There are fewer requirements for a minor update.
- Determine population estimates for the Urban Growth Boundary at the planning horizon to identify TPR requirements that apply to the TSP update – population thresholds include 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, and 100,000 people.
- Identify projects from the prior TSP, or projects anticipated to be added to the TSP, that add vehicle capacity and will require enhanced review per OAR 660-012-0830. If there are none, the VMT/capita analysis required by the rule may not be required.
- Identify potential performance standards to meet OAR 660-012-0215 requirements. Exploring which measures align with community values and what data is available can streamline Step 2 (Goals and Objectives) of the TSP update process.
City and county TSPs must be consistent with state plans, policies, and guidelines, particularly as they apply to state facilities. Therefore, local agencies should coordinate with the state in developing the scope of work for the TSP and in preparing the TSP. The state can also provide guidance to the local agency on best practices in preparing the TSP to meet statewide planning goals and TPR requirements.
City and county TSPs must be consistent with one another. If elements of a regional TSP have not been adopted, a city or county must coordinate preparation of the local TSP with the regional transportation planning agency. As part of this coordination effort, cities and counties should clearly define which TSP will govern county facilities and unincorporated areas located within the city's Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). It is a best practice for cities to plan for the UGB in coordination with counties that have authority over those areas until annexed by the city. Ideally, cities and counties would continue this best practice of coordination under the revised rules.
Local TSPs and applicable MPO regional transportation plans must be consistent. This includes goals, objectives, and investment strategies that work toward regional performance targets. The TPR also provides direction on equity and climate change actions that must be addressed in TSPs that are located within a metropolitan area. For best results, ODOT and the MPO should be consulted during the scope phase to determine specific topics to be updated or included in the TSP and to ensure the TSP is consistent with state and regional plans.
Before assigning staff and/or hiring a consultant, a jurisdiction should:
- Assess available resources to determine the level of in-house expertise
- Evaluate staffing options and determine the appropriate mix of staff/consultant expertise:
- Use existing staff expertise or new staff
- Use a combination of staff and consultant expertise
- Use predominantly consultant expertise (local staff to review but not complete the work)
- Identify and secure sufficient funding for staff/consultant work to develop and adopt the TSP
- If using a consultant, issue a Request for Proposals and select the consultant, accounting for time needed to execute a contract or work order and issue a Notice to Proceed
ODOT has limited funding to assist local jurisdictions with transportation planning projects through the Transportation and Growth Management Program and through individual Region Statewide Planning and Research funding allocations. Generally, ODOT considers TSP project funding requests from jurisdictions that:
- Are required to have TSPs or ready for a TSP update
- Are in critical transportation areas, non-exempt
locations, or have unique transportation circumstances
- Have an identified local agency project manager
Typically, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between ODOT and the local jurisdiction is required. As a condition of funding, the IGA and the scope of work must be approved by ODOT. ODOT may require project team members to possess specific licenses or certifications to demonstrate necessary expertise. An ODOT project manager—typically a Region or Statewide Planning Unit
planner—can provide technical assistance with the IGA and the scope of work. ODOT has several contracts in place that can expedite consultant selection for ODOT-funded TSP processes.